"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2

Monday, August 6, 2012

The Civil War Bivouac with Loree Huebner - Zouaves!

I’ve had a few requests, so it’s time I do another Civil
War Bivouac. In
this edition of the Civil War Bivouac, I wish to introduce you to a dear
friend who will be presenting a guest post today.

Skip Griffiths and Loree Huebner
Remembrance Day - Gettysburg, PA - On Little Round Top
With General Warren
Photo by Eric Huebner

I met David (Skip) Griffiths online over 10 years ago. Yes, this
was back in the day when chat rooms were popular…but it wasn’t the “pick up”
kind of chat room. We were part of a group of history hosts in a
Civil War chat room for AOL’s infamous, Mason/Dixon Line Room. This chat room on AOL’s, Research and Learn, was dedicated to the history of the Civil War only. As
hosts, we monitored conversations and debates, keeping the peace between the
North and South. We also presented Civil War trivia twice a week to a large
online audience, and hosted cyber round tables, as well as interviews
with famous Civil War historians and authors. Skip was Host General GK
Warren, and I was Host Hardtack.

After the chat room closed, Skip and I kept in touch through
email. Eric and I finally met Skip and his lovely wife, Arlene, in person—in
Gettysburg. We’ve been great friends since. The four of us have actually spent
a few weekends together in Gettysburg, walking the battlefields and sharing the
history.

When I met Skip, he was a re-enactor in the 5th New
York Duryee Zouaves—the very same regiment that the late, great, popular Civil War
historian, Brian Pohanka was Captain. Skip was also president of the
organization before Brian Pohanka passed away in 2005. Nowadays, when he isn’t
organizing a reenactment, Skip is a Civil War historian, speaking and educating
history fans on the Zouave. The Zouave units were notable for their bright
colored uniforms and participation at Fort Donelson, Gaines Mill, Antietam, Gettysburg to
name a few. I can already tell that we will have to call Skip back
for a second guest post on the Zouaves sometime in the future…but for now,
please welcome my friend and Civil War Historian/Zouave
expert, Skip Griffiths. Take it away, Skip!

ZOUAVES

Thank you, Loree! Welcome everyone!

When I was a kid in school I
discovered that my favorite subject was American History. I learned at the age
of nine that my favorite period in time was the Civil War. When I became an
adult, I learned the cold hard truth that my history teachers lied to me. They
told me that the Union wore blue uniforms and the Confederacy wore gray. They
never mentioned the soldiers who wore red, green or butternut. They also never
mentioned that during the first Battle of Bull Run, so many different uniforms
were worn that it became confusing and regiments on both sides fired at
friendly regiments. Had these teachers, many I still call friends, told me the
truth, I might have become obsessed with Zouaves earlier instead of later in my
life.

What is a Zouave you might ask? I
define a Zouave as a French infantry soldier that was
originally composed of members of nomadic tribes of North Africa, who wore the
baggy trousers, braided jackets and tasseled fez. They were well trained
soldiers and fierce fighters who only succumbed to the overwhelming better
weapons of the French. After France completed their foray into Africa, Louis
Napoleon III, the emperor, created three corps of Zouaves in the French army.
The best soldiers of those corps formed a fourth corps that became his Imperial
Guard. They became the best trained soldiers in the world in the nineteenth
century.

How did they come to the United
States? In 1854-1855 a war between France, Britain, and Russia broke out on the
Crimean Peninsula. It was here that the Zouaves validated their reputation as
the best soldiers in the world. In numerous charges with the bayonet they were
able to secure key cities and positions to defeat the Russians. As with many
wars in the nineteenth century, other countries sent observers to learn new
tactics and discover new inventions. The United States was no different. They
sent a young captain named George B. McClellan (later Major General of the Army
of the Potomac during the CW), with others to watch. Captain McClellan thought
that the Zouave “was the beau ideal of a soldier”. Although the War Department
dismissed the Zouave as too expensive to outfit and train, the idea for Zouaves
in the military did not end there.

A young man from upstate New York
had moved out to Illinois and taken a position of a law clerk in the law
offices of Herndon and Lincoln. His name was Elmer E. Ellsworth. While in
Chicago, Ellsworth had met a veteran Zouave of the Crimean War. He convinced
the man to train him in the tactics and drill to become a Zouave. After months
of training, Ellsworth formed his own militia unit, the U.S. Zouave Cadets.
They became one of the best trained militias in the country. In 1860, Ellsworth
took his militia around the country and competed in competitions of tactics and
drill. The Zouaves never lost a competition, and when the Zouave Cadets left a
city, a Zouave regiment was established. Captain Elmer E. Ellsworth had firmly
established the Zouave into the American culture. When the Civil War started in
April 1861, Ellsworth and many other men formed Zouave regiments.
Unfortunately, for Ellsworth, he has the distinction of being the first officer
killed when he shot retrieving a Confederate flag from the roof top of the
Marshall House in Alexandria, Virginia. It happened that President Lincoln
could see that flag being flown from the White House.

There were about 50 Zouave regiments
formed throughout the American Civil War on both sides during the war. Many of
the Northern Zouave regiments came from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
The southern Zouave came out of Louisiana, because of the heavy French
influence. There were northern Zouave regiments present at Lee’s surrender of
Appomattox. The Zouave ended in the United States after the Civil War, except
for a band of Zouaves in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. In France, the Zouave
lasted until the middle of World War.

Skip Griffiths is a Civil War Re-enactor, Civil War Historian and Speaker
He resides in New York State with his family
Photo courtesy of David (Skip) Griffiths private photo album

Thank you Skip!
Thanks for giving us a brief history of the Zouave—so fascinating!

This is amazing. Being a quarter French I'm surprised I've never heard of the Zouaves. Also there is a road six blocks from my home named Ellsworth - now I know where the name came from. Thanks Loree and Skip!

Jenny: As friends, we do share the love of the history. It's a passion we can't fully explain!

Lindsay: Re-enacting is fun! We have such a great time playing Yankees vs Rebs...Lol! I also love when I can get dressed up in my ball gowns or afternoon dresses. I take a step back in time. I just love the Zouave uniforms. So much detail!

trout: I would love to know the name of the book! It might be one Skip or I haven't read yet. I'll touch base with you.

Susan: That's what Skip thought too until he stumbled on to the Zouaves. Makes the army more interesting I think.

Lynda: Glad you enjoyed it!

Eric: Thanks for stopping in, babe. Always love when you comment. I know it's a good post.

A big thanks to everyone for popping in! Skip and I love reading your comments.

Love the uniforms! Thanks for introducing us to your friend, and historian Skip. What a fascinating wealth of information the two of you shared! I had no idea there were uniforms other than the blue and grey either...Appreciate the history lesson! God bless you both!

As a former "grunt" for real, I have never much cared for "elite" units...they tend to get the extra equipment, training and money that the average infanteer would like to have. That being said, the Zouave's earned their elite status, and nobody can take that away from them. Good thing too...with some seventy Zouave and Chausseur regiments in the North, and 25 companies of Zouave in the south, they provide a bit of colour for sure. There were also highland regiments (in plaid trousers, sorry ladies, no kilts!) and a hundred other minor infantry "guards" and such.

I recommend Don Troiani’s Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War for more information. You would not regret the time spent perusing this fine book. (and no, I have no vested interest in book sales here, just a deep and abiding interest in the topic.)

Maria: Happy you stopped in and enjoyed the post. The Zouave uniforms were so unique and detailed.

STAG: Welcome here! So nice of you to chime in on the history and the uniforms. I've seen Troiani's book. Great recommendation to all of our readers! His Civil War art work is absolutely amazing. I get lost in his paintings. I see something new each time I look at one. I could do an entire post on him and his dedication to accurately recreating the history through his art alone.

Maria and STAG, thanks for stopping by! Skip doesn't have a blogger profile but sends his thanks and appreciation to all who have left comments.

Fascinating post. There is so much about the Civil War most of us don't know and I keep learning more. This week my wife and I have been watching a 15 hour documentary about the War. The doc is presenting some interesting history, but since the filmmakers used a lot of footage shot a reenactment events I'm amazed by the number of reenactors who do this.What a love for the history.

As a side point, I am related to the great Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. Recently I participated in a DNA test and according to the results my kinship to Stonewall is 96% certain. I'm not directly descended, but in the same lineage that would make me a distant cousin I suppose. He was quite a heroic figure and not just for his participation in the Civil War.

Arlee: Welcome here!There are a lot of re-enactors out there. We all do it for the love of the history!

How very interesting that you are related to Stonewall Jackson. Should be fun to trace your roots back! I always remember his final words on his death bed ~ After he ordered A.P. Hill into action...a serene smile rest upon his face as he said, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees."

Stacy and Lee, thanks for dropping by. Skip and I loved hearing from you!

Hey, nice photo of you, Loree, with your hair down! :) And thanks to David/Skip for the informative post. I think the uniforms are neat--baggy trousers paired with fez, cool! Although on further thought, they look a little like Santa outfits, since they are red. LOL

Carol: I was waiting to see how long it took someone to say that LOL! They do look a bit like Santa suits at first glance. I just don't understand why they would wear such bright red into battle. TARGET!

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About The Author

Loree has had a love affair with American history all of her life. She writes historical fiction and inspirational historical romance. She shares this passion for history and writing along with her husband, Eric. Together, they have made the Civil War period a personal study and hobby. Loree and Eric are both active Union Civil War re-enactors with the 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Company E. Loree is an active member of the ACFW. She is represented by Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency.

Published

Loree and Eric Huebner are published in the Indiana Historical Society's Spring 2011 issue/June 2011 - of the IHS's quarterly magazine, Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. The ten page Civil War article is titled, Among The Bravest Of The Brave, The Battle History Of The 9th Indiana.